New Jersey Apostille

New Jersey is one of the few states where apostilles don't come from the Secretary of State. They are issued by the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, in Trenton. An apostille certifies the signature and seal of the official who signed your document so a foreign government will accept it.

Which New Jersey documents can be apostilled

• Birth, death and marriage certificates issued by the NJ Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry (records from 1923 onward; older records come from the NJ State Archives)

• Documents signed by a New Jersey county clerk or Superior Court judge, including certified court records and divorce judgments

• Documents notarized by a New Jersey notary public, such as powers of attorney, affidavits, travel consent letters and diploma copies

• New Jersey business filings, such as a Certificate of Formation or Certificate of Standing

What gets New Jersey documents rejected

• Wrong state. New Jersey can only apostille New Jersey documents. A birth certificate from New York or Pennsylvania has to go to that state, even if you live in New Jersey.

• Missing ink signatures. Notarized documents must carry the notary's original ink signature and the signer's original ink signature. Copies and scans are refused.

• The wrong vital record. Order from the NJ Department of Health. A copy from a local registrar may need extra certification first, and we'll tell you which one you have before anything is filed.

• Removing the apostille. It is stapled to your document's signature page. Taking it off voids it.

How it works with us

1. Send us your document, or tell us what you have and we'll tell you what to order.

2. We check signatures, seals and the record type before filing.

3. We file with the NJ Division of Revenue. Most state apostilles come back in 3 to 5 business days.

4. We return it by FedEx Priority, shipping included, anywhere in the world. You pay after the apostille is complete.

New Jersey apostille FAQ

Who issues apostilles in New Jersey?

The NJ Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, not the Secretary of State.

Do I need a translation?

Only if the receiving country asks for one. New Jersey recommends attaching a notarized English translation to non-English documents, which adds a second apostille.

My country isn't in the Hague Convention. What then?

New Jersey issues a certification instead of an apostille, then the document goes to that country's embassy. See our embassy legalization page.